Two-stage hydromotor-operated valve



United States Patent 3 051 432 TWO-STAGE HYDROll/IOTOR-OPERATED VALVE Timothy J. Sullivan, Butte, Mont, assignor to Sullivan Valve and Engineering Company, Butte, Mont, a corporation of Montana Filed Feb. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 9,636 7 Claims. (Cl. 25130) This invention relates generally to a hydromotor-operated fluid valve, and more particularly to a two-stage hydromotor-operated valve apparatus which may be automatically positioned and maintained at a first partiallyopen condition and at a second fully-open condition.

Two-stage valves adapted for connection in the fuel line to the burner of a boiler furnace are, of course, wellknown in the prior art. In my prior US. Patents #2333,- 212 and #2,825,5l0 I have disclosed embodiments of twostage valve devices using a pair of diaphragm controllers, and in my pending US. patent applications Serial Number 691,362 filed December 21, 1957, now Patent No. 2,973,-

. 935, and Serial Number 843,461 filed September 30, 1959 (now abandoned) I have disclosed embodiments of twostage devices utilizing a single diaphragm controller. In boiler furnace or heating systems utilizing such two-stage valves, the valve is connected in series in the fluid fuel line and is initially opened from a closed position to a partially-open low-fire position until the chimney of the furnace has been heated sufficiently to create a draft therethrough, whereupon the valve is then fully opened to a high fire position to permit maximum flow of fuel to the burners of the furnace. As the demand of the load fluctuates, the valve is automatically changed from its high-fire position to its low-fire position.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fluid control valve which is operated by hydromotor operating means.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fluid control valve which is operated by means of a hydromotor operator and which includes solenoid valve means in the fluid circuit of the hydromotor for maintaining the valve member at a predetermined degree of opening.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a fluid control valve which is operated by hydromotor means, said hydromotor means including in the fluid circuit thereof a solenoid valve controller operable as a function of the degree of opening of the valve member relative to its seat to positively lock the valve member in a given position.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a two-stage fluid valve operable by hydromotor means including in the fluid circuit thereof a solenoid valve which is actuated when the valve member is raised from its closed position or lowered from its fully open position to a low-fire partially open condition to temporarily lock the valve member in its low-fire position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the two-stage hydromotor operated valve in its closed position;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an electrical wiring diagram of the valve connected in a boiler furnace system.

Referring first more particularly to FIG. 1, the valve body 1 has an inlet opening 2 and an outlet opening 3 connected in series in the gas supply conduit 4 leading to the burner unit of the boiler furnace 5. The valve body 1 has a transverse wall 6 therein defining an inlet chamber 7 and an outlet chamber 8, which wall 6 contains an opening in which is mounted the valve seat 9. Slidably 3,851,432 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 ice mounted within the valve seat opening is the perforated valve sleeve 10 having a resilient washer 10a adapted to be seated upon the valve seat 9 when the valve is in the closed position to prevent flow of the fluid fuel from the valve inlet chamber 7 to the outlet chamber 8. The valve sleeve 10 is carried on a valve stem 11 which slidably extends through an opening in the upper portion of the valve body bonnet 13, said opening being sealed by the fluid seal 12. At its lower end, the valve stem 11 slidably extends through seal 14 mounted in the valve body bottom plate 16 and terminates in an enlarged portion 11a within the flexible bellows 15 adjacent the rigid bottom portion 15a thereof.

The bellows 15 is mounted within the fluid tight seal to the horizontal plate 16. Surrounding the pressure chamber 17 and secured to the plate 16 is the housing 18 which contains a quantity of fluid 19, such as oil, therein. Submerged within the fluid 19 is the electrically-driven pump 20 having a pressure outlet line 21 provided with a pressure relief valve 22. A branch line 23 extends from the pressure line 21 and has an electrically-operated solenoid valve 24 connected in series therewith. Solenoid valve 24 is open in its normally de-energized state and is closed in its energized state. The branch line 23 terminates within the pressure chamber housing 17 so that when the solenoid valve 24 is open, fluid under pressure may be pumped by pump 20 through lines 21 and 23 into the pressure chamber housing 17 to compress the flexible bellow-s 15 and cause upward movement of the valve stem 11 and raising of the valve sleeve 10 from its seat 9 as will be described in greater detail below. Spring 60 provided on the valve stem normally biases the valve stem 11 and sleeve 10 downwardly to seat the washer 10a upon the seat 9.

To the upper end of the valve bonnet 13 is secured the switch housing 26 having a guide bearing 27 in the upper wall thereof through which the upper portion of valve stem 11 slidably extends. Adjusting nut 28 is threadedly mounted on the valve stem portion 11a and will be displaced longitudinally of the valve stem by rotation relative thereto. The adjusting nut supports the sleeve 11b which is keyed to the valve stem and is freely displaceable longitudinally of the valve stem.

At one end the furnace air doors operating arm 29 is pivotally connected to the fixed pivot 30 secured to the switch housing by the rigid bracket 31, and intermediate its ends the arm 29 is pivotally connected to the upper extremity of the valve stem extension 11a by the pivot 32. At its other end the arm "29 is connected to the furnace air doors 33 by the chain 34. Thus upward movement ofthe valve stem 11 will result in opening of the furnace aiir doors 33 and downward movement of the valve stem will cause closing of the doors.

Secured to one wall of the switch housing 26 are the mioroswitches 35, 36 having switch actuators 35a, 3611, respectively. Secured to the opposite wall of the switch housing is the bracket 37 to which is pivotally connected the switch operator 88 by means of shaft 39. The switch operator has two rigid arms 38a, 38b terminating adjacent the switch actuators 35a, 36a, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The switch operator arm 38a has a recess 40 therein into which extends the radial pin 11a of the valve stem sleeve 11b. It will now be apparent that upward movement of valve stem 11. causes pin 110 to engage the horizontal wall of recess 40 to pivot the operator 38 in the counter-clockwise (upward) direction relative to the pivot shaft 39. The contacts of switch 35 are normally closed and the contacts of switch 36 are normally open. The switch actuators 35a and 36b are operated by the extremities of arms 38a and 38b during pivotal movement of the operator 38 as will be explained below.

The operation of the two-stage hydromotor valve may 3 now be descnibed with reference to the circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the physical locations of the temperature re sponsive stack switch 50 and the pressure-responsive limit and high-fire switches having been illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. a

When the hydromotor valve is in the closed positionof FIG. 1 and the line switch 53 is closed, current will flow to pump 20 through the normallyclosed contacts of the limit pressure switch 51 and through the normally closed contacts of switch 35. Upon energization, pump 26 will pump fluid 19 through conduits 2.1 and 23 and through the normally open solenoid valve 24 into the pressure chamber housing 17. As the fluid pressure in housing 17 builds up, flexible bellows 15 will be compressed and valve stem 11 be moved upwardly to partially raise valve sleeve from its seat 8'. Fuel will then be fed at a relatively low rate to the burners of boiler furnace 5- through the valve body 1 and the conduit 4.

As the valve stem 11 moves upwardly to the low-fire partially-open position, operator 38 is pivoted upwardly by radial pin 110 until switch 36 is operated by contact of the extremity of arm 3812 with the actuator 36a so that the contacts of switch 36 are closed. Solenoid valve 214 will then be energized by current flowing through the line containing the stack switch 50 and the solenoid valve will be actuated to closed position. Thus no more fluid 19 may be pumped through conduit 23 into the pressure chamber housing 17 and the valve stem 11 will be maintained at its low fire position. In a similar manner, the contacts of switch 35 will be caused to open due to the cooperation between arm 38a and actuator 35a. The contacts of switch 35 are maintained open during both low and high fire positions of the valve stem 11. The pump 20, of course, will continue to operate (due to the jumper connection through the high-fire switch 52). and the pressure fluid therefrom will pass through conduit 21 and pressure relief valve 22 for recirculation.

Atter the chimney has been heated sufficiently to create the desired draft theretlhrough, stack switch 50' will be opened and the solenoid valve 24' will be de-energized to open the passage through branch line 23 so that more tfluid will be pumped into the pressure chamber housing 17. The bellows will. then be further compressed and valve stem 11 will be raised to fully lift valve sleeve 10 to its high fire position. The fuel fluid will then flow at a relatively high rate through conduit 4 to the burners of furnace 5. The upward travel of the valve stem 11 and the degree of complete opening of the valve is limited by the compression of springs 60 and :61 mounted upon the valve stem. At the high fire position, the contact pressure applied by arm 38b to actuator 36a is reduced to cause the contacts of switch 36 to be opened.

After the high fire demand has been satisfied, the highfire pressure switch is opera-ted to the off position and the pump becomes de energized to discontinue the flow of fluid into pressure chamber 17. :Fluid will then flow out of chamber 17 through branch conduit 23 until the valve stem 11 (and the valve sleeve 10a secured thereto) fall under the biasing force of spring 60' to the low fire position. At this point, however, the arm 38b will again engage switch 36 to close the contacts thereof to energize the solenoid valve 24 and prevent further outflow from the pressure chamber housing 17 and consequently the valve stem 11 will be positively maintained at its low fire position. Upon reactivation of the high-fire pressure switch upon demand for more heat, pump 20 will again be energized (by current flowing through the high-fire pressure switch) and solenoid valve 24 will be de-energized to permit pumping of additional fluid into housing 17 whereby the valve stem 111 will again be raised to its high-fire position. Thus it is apparent that the contacts of switch 36 are closed by arm 3812 only when the valve stem 11 is at the low-fire position, and the contacts of switch 36 are open in both the closed and high fire posiv 4 tions of valve 10. The contacts of switch 35 are main tained open by the arm 38a once the valve stem 11 has been initially raised from the valve-closed position.

Upon operation of the limit pressure switch 51 with the valve stem 11 (and the valve sleeve 10 carried thereon) in either the low or high-fire positions, both the pump 20 and the solenoid valve 24 will be de-energizedwith the result that fluid will flow out of pressure chamber housing 17 and valve stem 11 will drop to its fully closed position to seat valve sleeve washer 10a upon its seat.

It should be mentioned that the low-fire degree of partial opening of the valve member relative to its seat may be adjusted as desired by means of the adjusting nut 28. Rotation of the adjusting nut 28 in one direction will cause raising of sleeve 11b and pin relative to the valve stem 11, and rotation of the adjusting nut 28in the opposite direction will cause lowering of pin 11c, whereby the point of cooperation between operator arm 32% with actuator 36aand consequently the degree of opening of the valve at low-firemay be determined.

The use of the perforated sleeve 10' in place of the common V-port sleeve or regular valve seat should be noted. Due to the use of the perforated sleeve-which' may be made of steel, brass or other suitable materialequal additional increments of fuel gas will enter the sleeve for each quarter inch lift of the valve member from its seat. In the valves of the prior art using V-ports the valve will not progressively open in equal increments but rather will open more on the last half inchof'mov'emen-t than on the first half inch of movement.

Although a two-stage valve has been illustrated and described, it is apparent that the principles of the instant invention are equally applicable to simplethrottling valves and other types of fluid control valves.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have illustrated and described the best form and embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes and modifications may be made in the apparatus described without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims:

I claim:

1. In combination with a valve body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber divided by a' transverse wall provided with an opening containing a valve seat, and

a valve member in said valve body adapted to be seated upon said seated opening to close the same; the inven-, tion which consists of hydromotor means for raising said valve member from its seat comprising a pressure chamber housing connected to said valve body, a flexible bellows in said pressure chamber housing, said valve member having an extension adjacent said bellows for engagement thereby, means including a conduit for introducing fluid under pressure into said pressure chamber housing to distortsaid belolws in a direction to raise said valve member. relative to its seat, an electrically-actuated solenoid control valve means in said conduit for interrupting the flow of fluid in either direction through said conduit, said combination further including means biasing said valve member to a closed position on its seat and for biasing said bellows to urge fluid out of said pressure chamber housing through said conduit, and means responsive to the position of said valve member relative to its seat for actuating said solenoid valve to close the same when the valve member is positioned at a predetermined position relative to its seat.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said solenoid valve includes a switch connected to said valve body, electrical means connecting ing means for adjusting the point of operation of said switch by said switch operating means whereby the predetermined partially-open position of the valve member relative to its seat may be set as desired.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for introducing fluid under pressure into said pressure chamber housing includes an electro-mechanical pump connected to said conduit.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including a relief valve connected in said conduit intermediate said pumpand said control valve for relieveing the fluid pressure in said conduit when said pump is operative and said control valve is closed.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said pump is submerged in a receptacle containing the fluid and the relief valve discharges the fluid into said receptacle for recirculation.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further including 6 switch means for discontinuing the operation of said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,429 Engberg June 27, 1905 1,557,192 Brunning Oct. 13, 1925 1,798,973 Cordier Mar. 31, 1931 2,117,182 Lewis May 10, 1938 2,291,783 Baak Aug. 4, 1942 2,476,400 Berkholder July 19, 1949 2,488,780 Ray Nov. 22, 1949 2,541,176 Rockwell Feb. 13, 1951 2,715,009 Beekley Aug. 9, 1955 2,800,921 Wright July 30, 1957 2,820,357 Henrici Jan. 21, 1958 2,849,670 McIntosh Aug. 26, 1958 2,918,087 Cur-ran Dec. 22, 1959 

